Мертві душі

           ”Uponthatthelean,long,andred-beardedUncleMitaimountedtheshafthorse;inwhichpositionhelookedlikeavillagesteepleorthewinderwhichisusedtoraisewaterfromwells.Thecoachmanwhippeduphissteedsafresh,butnothingcameofit,andUncleMitaihadproveduseless.“Holdon,holdon!”shoutedthepeasantsagain.“Doyou,UncleMitai,mountthetracehorse,whileUncleMinaimountstheshafthorse.”WhereuponUncleMinai—apeasantwithapairofbroadshoulders,abeardasblackascharcoal,andabellylikethehugesamovarinwhichsbitenisbrewedforallattendingalocalmarket—hastenedtoseathimselfupontheshafthorse,whichalmostsanktothegroundbeneathhisweight.“NOWtheywillgoallright!”themuzhiksexclaimed.“Layitonhot,layitonhot!Givethatsorrelhorsethewhip,andmakehimsquirmlikeakoramora22.”Nevertheless,theaffairinnowayprogressed;wherefore,seeingthatfloggingwasofnouse,UnclesMitaiandMinaiBOTHmountedthesorrel,whileAndrushaseatedhimselfuponthetracehorse.Thenthecoachmanhimselflostpatience,andsentthetwoUnclesabouttheirbusiness—andnotbeforeitwastime,seeingthatthehorsesweresteaminginawaythatmadeitclearthat,unlesstheywerefirstwinded,theywouldneverreachthenextposthouse.Sotheyweregivenamoment’srest.Thatdone,theymovedoffoftheirownaccord!

           Throughout,Chichikovhadbeengazingattheyoungunknownwithgreatattention,andhadevenmadeoneortwoattemptstoenterintoconversationwithher:butwithoutsuccess.